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Appraisal on Colt .380 Government.

JorgeJorge Member Posts: 10,656 ✭✭
edited December 2010 in Ask the Experts
I purchased a while back a Mark IV Series 80 Colt Government .380 in used but excellent condition - for $450.

Should I shoot the heck out of it, or keep for collectors value? How much would it sell for? It now resides in my safe.

It came in it's original cardboard and plastic box with it's corresponding documents.

Thanks all for your input.

Comments

  • Spider7115Spider7115 Member Posts: 29,704 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Why keep everything in the safe? It's a used gun and won't depreciate if you take care of it. Shoot it!
  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    +1 Spider. Safe queens you might as well buy STAMPS and keep them in a safe. Guns are made to shoot just maintain them and don't abuse them. This is Not a mint condition 100 year old colt or Winchester or a rare all matching Navy Luger.
  • Wolf.Wolf. Member Posts: 2,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here is my take:
    These are good guns. If your Colt Gov't .380 is in pretty good shape (whatever that translates into as far as NRA percentage goes), I personally believe you paid a reasonable price for it at $450.00. You do not say if it is blue, nickel or stainless, but $450 isn't bad. As an aside, you can buy Colt factory magazines in blue, nickel and stainless at reasonable prices from Midway these days. I think the nickel-plated guns with the white Colt factory medallion plastic grip panels are especially attractive.

    I think the gun, depending on finish and condition, would sell for anywhere between $400 to $600. I think a good, nickel plated version would be in there at $500 to $550....today, that is. Just my guess. Check the completed GB auctions for real prices. Of course if you sold it locally and the buyer did not incur any shipping and handling fees, then you might get more, but probably not. Pristine, 100% examples would, I imagine, sell for somewhat more and these are the ones that gun collectors will want to have in today's world or market.

    My suggestion is that you should shoot your used gun. Bullseye shooting will be ho-hum with this gun, but I think that you might want to put at least a hundred rounds through it to familiarize yourself with it and ensure there are no bugs, then clean the gun well and keep it for self defense. Keep your gun in good shape; do not cycle +P or other high powered rounds through it. There is no reason to, not even for self defense. The .380 will stop bad guys as-is, regardless of the naysayers. But, what can I say......it's a Colt. If you are especially enamored of it, then yeah, don't shoot it, keep it in the safe and play with it from time to time. I have guns like that, too.
  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    How much its worth will depend on exact condition and finish, but I don't think an excellent condition .380 colt is going to be worth *LESS* than $450!

    I agree with Spider. My opinion is that unless the guns condition exceeds 99% (ie you can't find a mark on it and it looks unfired), then shoot it as much as you like.

    Since the gun is already used, as long as you don't abuse it, shooting it won't detract from whatever value it has. Biggest things are just to take care in cleaning it, don't keep holstering/ unholstering it (that can wear a finish), and try not to drop it onto hard surfaces!

    Personally speaking, I don't find shooting the little .380s to be all that much fun anyway.

    Its not that recoil is unpleasant, or anything like that, but .380 ammo costs as much as bigger centerfire ammo, and the guns are hard to shoot accurately. I think of these basically as self-defense tools. I'll shoot as much as I want/need to get a feel for the gun and remain proficient, and that's about it.

    For my entertainment dollar, I'd rather shoot .22s, .38s or 9mms.
  • JorgeJorge Member Posts: 10,656 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks all for your replies. I think I'll take that baby out for a spin.
  • partisanpartisan Member Posts: 6,414
    edited November -1
    I bought one of these new in the early 80" for $235.00. Still have all the paperwork, box, manuals, ect. I've shot it about 50 times, but that was years ago. Now I just take it out to admire it every once in awhile. $450 is a good price if it;s in very good condition.
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